B-24J-155-CO #44-40328 “THIS ABOVE ALL” 786TH BOMB SQUADRON  CODE: U8-T
This a/c previously flew with the 487th BG. Survived the war and was flown back to the
U S.CREWS KNOWN TO HAVE FLOWN THIS A/C:#765 - David Bridgers Crew

Brassfield Collection photo

B-24H-15-FO #42-52570 "SACK HAPPY" 786TH BOMB SQUADRON - CODE U8-A
This was an original aircraft of the 466th BC. "Sack Happy" crash landed in Denmark on May 30. 1944 w/ crew #613.
CREWS KNOWN TO HAVE FLOWN THlS A/C - #613 - Adolph Komer Crew
 

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B-24H-l5-FO #42-52510 "SPLASH" 786TH BOMB SQUADRON - CODE: U8-R
This was an original aircraft of the 466th BG. "Splash" was transferred to the "Carpetbaggers" 406th Bomb Squadron
CREWS KNOWN TO HAVE FLOWN THIS A/C: #532 - M.K. Cox Crew, #542 - T. C. Slaughter Crew'
 

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B-24H-20-FO #42-95010 "CROW'S NEST" 786TH BOMB SQUADRON - CODE: U8-P
Probably an early replacement aircraft "Crow's Nest' crash landed near Brussels on October 25. 1944 with Crew #663.
CREWS KNOWN TO HAVE FLOWN THIS A/C #625 - J. Hartley Crew, #632 - R. Hurst Crew, #663 - C. Maxton Crew
 

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B-24H- 15-FO #42-52529 "WILD PUSSY" 786TH BOMB SQUADRON - CODE: U8-B
This was an original aircraft of the 466th BC. "Wild Pussy" was shot down by flak over France on Aug 13, 1944 w'/crew #631
CREWS KNOWN TO HAVE FLOWN THIS A/C - #608 - H. Hinman Crew, #631 - R Wollstein Crew
 

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B-24H-15-FO #42-52597 "Lady Lightning" 786th Bomb Squadron - Code: U8-W
This photo shows Lady Lightning landing with the use of crew parachutes for braking on an unknown date. The parachutes were necessary due to a loss of hydraulics, and was a fairly common procedure for Libs that had their hydraulic system damaged in battle. Note that the code "U8" has been painted over the previous code "T9" on the fuselage. Lady Ligntning was shot down on August 15, 1944 over Holland. 
CREWS KNOWN TO HAVE FLOWN THIS A/C: #407-Arthur Kraft Crew, #725 - John Suchiu Crew. 

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B-24H-15-CF #42-50373 “HARD T’ FIND” CODE: U8-E 786th Bomb Squadron This a/c was transferred to the 466w BG from the 3rd A. Div.’s 487th BG, when that Division went fully with the B-17. CREWS KNOWN TO HAVE FLOWN THIS A/C: John Blumenstock Crew - #652 & 475.

Peter Forrest Photo

B-24H-15-FO #42-52560 “LADEN MAID” CODE: U8-M - 786th BS CREWS KNOWN TO HAVE FLOWN THIS A/C Stu Peace Crew - #732

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Thomas M. Dilworth Crew - Crew #680 - 786th Bomb Squadron
B-24J-150-CO #44-40173 "OUR BABY"  CODE: 6L-T
Standing Left to Right:
Gerald Kardon - Co-Pilot
Walter Ortel - Navigator
Thomas Dilworth - Pilot
Gene Nichols - Gunner

Kneeling Left to Right:
John Kerr - Gunner
Bernie Miller - gunner
Jay Pittsley - Radio Op.
Gear Ellison, Jr. - Gunner

Dilworth had also served as Co-Pilot on the Paul Evans Crew - Crew #651
 

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Paul S. Evans Crew - Crew #651 - 786th Bomb Squadron
Standing Left to Right:
Unknown
Jim Kazakus - Engineer
Jerry Cappellini - Waist Gunner
Thomas Dilworth - Co-Pilot
Paul Evans - Pilot

Kneeling Left to Right:
Lt. Gillespie - Navigator
Leon Lascor - Radio Operator
Joe Columbo - Tail Gunner holding 'Rocky', the crews mascot.
Bill Moore - Nose Gunner
Sgt. Campbell - Waist Gunner
 

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JACK DOUGHERTY CREW - CREW #633
B24H-15-CF #41-29366 "DIRTY GERTIE"  CODE: U8-G
786TH BOMB SQUADRON

Standing Left to Right:
Bob Baumann - Co-Pilot
Bill Horney - Navigator
Roy Edwards - Bombardier
Jack Dougherty - Pilot

Kneeling Left to Right:
Ed Cranage - Radio Op.
Nick Kuklish - Tail Gunner
Richard Schroeder - Asst. Engineer
Fred Utter - Waist Gunner
Harry Deboef - Engineer
Charles Patton - Gunner

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B-24J-140-CO #42-110157 "What's Cookin' Doc" 
Code: U8-A  786th Bomb Squadron
This was one of the longest serving B-24's with the 466th BG, with at least 118 missions to her credit.
Crews Known to Have Flown This A/C: #606- R. Foster Crew, #642-G. Behrens Crew, #644 - R. Neylan Crew

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B-24H-15-FO #42-52511 "QUEEN OF HEARTS"  786TH BS -       CODE: U8-E
This was an original aircraft of the 466th BG.  She was crash landed near the village of New Romney, England on 17 July 1944.  The Wollstein Crew had been hit by flak and lost two engines and all hydraulics as well as the nose wheel tire.  They had a severely injured ball turret gunner.  Despite all this Wollstein was able to put the aircraft on the ground without further injury to the crew.
CREWS KNOWN TO HAVE FLOWN THIS A/C:  #631 - R. Wollstein

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My father flew in WWII, the 8th and from the looks of the pictures, the 466th.  He crashed in England on his way back from Germany, sometime around early November, 1944.  Cause of the crash was flack gunfire causing the loss of engin power.   I believe he was co-pilot, his name Lt. Bruce F. Sinclair.  According to his letter, the bombardier, navigator and radio operator were buried in an American cemetery in England.  He was expected to die too but survived.  No names are mentioned or additional info. If anyone has any info, please contact Shawn Frisch at RHF3@aol.com

Vincent A. Nelson with the Doc and his crew

Photo courtesy of Dan Nelson

"The Queen of Hearts" with the Wollstein crew  in front

Photo courtesy of Leah Benadum

SSgt. Lambert Patrick Zaetsch who was the tail gunner with this Adolph Komer Crew - B-24H-15-FO #42-52570 “Sack Happy”  Code:  U8-A  was the aircraft the Komer Crew crash-landed on 29 May 1944

Photo courtesy of Patricia M. (Zaetsch) Peters

SSgt. Lambert Patrick Zaetsch who was the tail gunner with this Adolph Komer Crew- B-24H-15-FO #42-52570 “Sack Happy”  Code:  U8-A  was the aircraft the Komer Crew crash-landed on 29 May 1944

Photo courtesy of Patricia M. (Zaetsch) Peters

Heavily damaged by German fighters on their 15^th mission, the crew was forced to crash land their aircraft at Schleswig-Holstein, Germany on 29 May 1944.  All of the crew escaped serious injury and were made POW. This is the letter written home following the crash.

Photo courtesy of Patricia M. (Zaetsch) Peters